Page 2 of (Not Really) Faking It With My Best Friend's Brother

“Nobody’s judging you!” Emily rolled her eyes. “Besides, I’ve already set up a profile for you.” She tilted the screen toward me, revealing a cute avatar—a silhouette of a woman sitting under a tree with an open book on her lap, complete with glasses and a stack of books beside her. “Meet Boundless Bookworm.”

I hesitated, caught between the safety of my routines and the allure of the unknown. “But what if someone recognizes me because of the books?” My voice was barely audible, betraying my anxiety.

“Are you kidding? No one in Rivermint Cove would expect Susan Phillips to be on a dating app.” Her laughter rang out, clear and confident. “Boundless Bookworm will be our little secret.”

She reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “I know it is out of your comfort zone, but you spend all your time in that library. When was the last time you went on a date?”

My cheeks heated. She had a point, but the thought of putting myself out there filled me with anxiety. At 30 years old, I had only been on a handful of dates. Maybe I had indulged in too many romance novels, and no one ever really sparked my interest enough. Well, enough for me to put my heart on the line.

Emily’s voice softened. “Look, I get it. But what if your soulmate is out there waiting to meet you?”

I chewed my lip uncertainly. As much as I loved my predictable life, a small part of me wondered if more existed beyond my comfort zone. Emily was right. I couldn’t hide between pages forever. Surrendering to the promise of new horizons—or perhaps to end Emily’s relentless encouragement—I took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay, fine. But we keep this low-key.”

"Low-key is my middle name," Emily said, though we both knew that couldn't be further from the truth.

I let out a deep sigh. "Right."

Emily ignored my response and whooped and stuck her hand out for a high-five. "Let the adventure begin!"

As we finished our lunch, my nerves began to give way to cautious excitement. Maybe this app really could lead me to someone special.

Back at the library, I tried to focus on reshelving books, but my mind kept drifting. I found myself drawn to the romance section again. My fingers trailed across the spines, taking in the range of titles - from sweet small-town love stories to passionate historical romances. For a moment, I let my imagination run wild.

Mr. Darcy appeared, gazing at me intently as he leaned against the bookshelf. “My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”

I flushed, nearly dropping the stack of books in my arms. Before I could respond, a smooth voice spoke from across the aisle.

“Darcy’s got nothing on me, doll. Why don’t you and I have a little chat over drinks tonight?” Gatsby winked roguishly, looking dapper in a crisp pink suit.

Flustered, I turned away, only to find Mr. Rochester blocking my path, his brooding eyes pleading. “Susan, I cannot live without you in my life. You are my life.”

“Susan?” Frances, another librarian, stood there gawking at me with a perplexed expression. “Are you okay? You seem a little distracted.”

I felt my cheeks grow warm. “Oh! Um, yeah, I’m fine.” I busied myself shelving books, avoiding her gaze. She made a sound that was somewhere between a sigh and a laugh and walked away.

"Well, that was embarrassing," I muttered to myself, but I couldn't deny that I was thrilled at the possibilities. The idea was indulgent, even ludicrous, but if fictional characters could find love, maybe I could too.

My thoughts were interrupted by the ping of my phone. I pulled it out, my stomach fluttering. There was the dating app Emily had installed. With shaky fingers, I opened it. A kaleidoscope of avatars filled the screen. I scrolled through, unsure what I was looking for.

Then, an intriguing profile appeared as if conjured from my own musings. It featured the silhouette of a doctor against a backdrop of calming blue. He was standing with an air of confidence, a stethoscope draped casually around his neck, and a faint heart symbol hovering near his chest. Something about the avatar’s smile seemed warm and genuine. I clicked his profile.

“MysteryDoc,” it read. His interests included hiking, reading, and a love for jazz music. I smiled, intrigued by this glimpse into his life.

Before I could overthink it, I quickly swiped right. We matched immediately. I gasped, feeling a sense of sheer panic sweep over me. What had I done?

My hands trembled as I set the phone down. This was uncharted territory. What if I messed up? What if I said the wrong thing? I was always awkward around new people. All the familiar doubts began to creep in.

No, I scolded myself. I wouldn’t let fear hold me back. Emily was right. I needed some spice in my life, even if it scared me half to death. I picked up my phone again, determined to at least give this a shot.

I typed out a simple “Hi there!” My heart pounded as I pressed the send button, but a small smile crept across my face.

The app showed him typing a response. I opened the message: “Hello :) I see you also love jazz music. I’d like to chat more about our favorites! I’m also a dog lover. Do you have any furry companions?”

I smiled, pleasantly surprised by the thoughtful message. I hesitated, trying to think of how to respond. “I’m glad to meet a fellow jazz lover. I like Miles Davis and Billie Holiday. Do you have a favorite? And yes—I have the sweetest basset hound named Baxter!”

Within moments, MysteryDoc replied, and we fell into an easy conversation. The exchange was light and playful. I enjoyed the banter, and my interest was piqued.

Before I knew it, the clock chimed, and it was ten minutes past closing time. I needed to finish straightening up and get out of there. Reluctantly, I said goodbye to MysteryDoc, promising to message later.

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